SAN ANGELO, Texas — The Texas Tech University System Board of Regents approved two new doctoral degree programs for Angelo State University at its Oct. 16 meeting in Lubbock.
According to an ASU press release, the approved degree programs are Doctor of Social Work (D.S.W) in clinical social work and Doctor of Education (Ed.D) in transformative leadership.
The programs will be submitted to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for final review and approval, according to the release.
Final approval for the two new degree programs, in addition to the Doctor of Psychology in counseling program, submitted for approval in May would increase the number of doctoral degree programs offered to four.
“The possible implementation of three new doctoral programs is an indication of the quality of our faculty and the need for doctoral degrees focused on practice, as opposed to those geared toward becoming a faculty member. These degrees will provide practitioners for important segments of our society, namely mental health and civic leadership,” Dr. Don Topliff, ASU provost and vice president for academic affairs, said in the release.
The D.S.W. in clinical social work degree will consist of 50 credit hours offered through the Department of Social Work within ASU's Archer College of Humanities and Human Services. Classes are scheduled to begin in Fall 2021.
The Ed.D. in transformative leadership will consist of 60 credit hours offered through the Department of Curriculum and Instruction within ASU's College of Education. Classes are scheduled to begin in Spring 2022.
Currently, only five online programs of this kind exist in Texas, however, there are none in the West Texas region.